Peru and Puerto Rico at the double in Lima

30 Oct 2016

The host nation alongside visitors Puerto Rico emerged as the associations to impress, as matters advanced to the final stage of the doubles events at the 2016 Latin American Under 11 and Under 13 events in Lima, Peru on Saturday 29th October.

Notably, four Peruvian partnerships and four visiting pairings from the Caribbean island harboured hopes of gold, when the penultimate round matches had been decided.

Patriotic, Brianna Burgos through to both the Under 11 Girls' Doubles and Under 11 Mixed Doubles finals. (Photo: Sergio Aguilar)

by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Furthermore, in the Under 11 Mixed Doubles event, Puerto Rico is assured of both gold and silver; Oscar Birriel and Brianna Burgos face Derek Valentin and Daymar Castro in the final.

Likewise, hopes of Puerto Rican players standing on the top step of the medal podium are very much alive in the Under 11 Girls’ Doubles and Under 13 Boys’ Doubles event.

In both events they face Peruvian opponents. In the former Brianna Burgos and Daymar Castro oppose Isabel Solar and Ana Tenobi; in the latter, Angel Naranjo and Jabdiel Torres confront Carlos Fernandez and Angel Jimenez.

Possibilities for Mexico, it is the same in the Under 11 Boys’ Doubles final; the one event that does not involve Peru or Puerto Rico.

However, it very nearly did involve Puerto Rico; at the semi-final stage Oscar Birriel and Derek Valentin experienced defeat by the very narrowest of margins. They were beaten by Colombia’s Miguel Aguirre and José Acevedo (10-12, 11-6, 8-11, 11-5, 12-10).

In the final the Colombians meet Mexico’s Jorge Buenestro and Rogelio Castro; at the semi-final stage they accounted for Peru’s Marcelo Chavezand Marko Kuwae (11-6, 9-11, 11-5, 13-11).